Dressed in a violet gown, Archbishop Yeom Soo-jung stands stern faced during a ceremony at the Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul to celebrate his appointment as cardinal.

"It seems like most of the people here are happy except for me. The title as new cardinal is a fearful and heavy one. I will work to create a church that serves the poor and those who are isolated from society."

Standing in front of about 300 Catholics and journalists who braved the freezing cold to attend the ceremony, Yeom laid out his vision as cardinal.

"Through my small sarifices, sharing and love, I will work toward creating a church that could heal the conflicts and divisions that are rampant in our society."

Archbishop Yeom was appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis on Sunday at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
He is currently the de facto leader of the Korean Catholic Church.
Yeom was born into and raised by a highly religious family.
He graduated from the Catholic University of Korea in 1970, was ordained a priest in the same year, and was appointed as the fourteenth Catholic Archbishop of Seoul by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
Yeom also serves as chairman of the Catholic television channel Peace Broadcasting Corporation, and continues the "Babo Nanum" or "Fool's Sharing" foundation established by late cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan.
Religious leaders in Korea welcomed the pope's choice and expressed hope that Korea's church will contribute to the Asian and global Catholic communities.
Eighteen others will join Yeom as newly appointed cardinals.
The decision on archbishops from Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Haiti which marked its fourth anniversary since a deadly earthquake, reflect Pope Francis' commitment to the poor.
Andrew Yeom Soo-jung will be officially appointed as a cardinal on February 22nd.
Yoo Li-an, Arirang News.